Dance Craze - The Original 2-Tone Book

Hey you, don’t read that, read THIS! This is the heavy, heavy monster book, the nuttiest read around! It’s 

also the only introduction you’ll ever need to the boss sound of the 1980s: THE SPECIALS! MADNESS! THE BEAT! BAD MANNERS! THE SELECTER! and The BODYSNATCHERS! 

With a saucy portion of Judge Dread thrown in for good measure...

Researcher Paul Hallam had this to say about the book....

"Basically it’s the text from the 1981 (Dance Craze) magazine, with postscripts epilogues and much more. Several pages at the back taken from sounds of that era - dress like a rude boy for under a tenner - coach trips to marakesh for £30.00 (how long did that take in 1980?), and 30 plus unseen pictures taken by photographer David Arnoff in Los Angeles 1980 of the Specials/Madness/Selecter and The Beat." 


It’s in HMV stores from Monday 12th December and online to pre-order now at Facebook and Acid Jazz

The ‘Studio One Story’ From Soul Jazz

Soul Jazz Records’ have just re-released their feature-length documentary/CD/Book titled the ‘Studio One Story’. This DVD/CD/Book and DVD/2LP/Book combination was first released in 2003 but now for the first time you can if you so wish purchase the DVD on its own.

The film took one and a half years to make and was shot entirely on location in Jamaica, two years before the death of the legendary Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd. The producer gave unprecedented personal access to the makers allowing them to tell the unique story of the iconic label’s rise from its early sound system days in the 1950s through to its dominance of the reggae markets in the late 1970s, which saw it described by Chris Blackwell as both the Motown of Jamaica and ‘The University of Reggae’.
The running time is around 4hrs and includes interviews with Horace Andy, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Sugar Minott, Denis Alcapone, The Ethiopians, Sylvan Morris, Johnny Moore, Lone Ranger, King Stitt and many others. The DVD also includes rare footage of The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, Count Ossie and Marcia Griffiths among others.

This DVD offers a rare insight into how Dodd and the many artists and musicians at Studio One literally shaped the rise of Reggae music, making it compulsive viewing for anyone with an interest in Reggae.

The DVD retails for £9.99 while the DVD/CD/Book and DVD/2LP/Book are both priced at £17.99. For more information and to order your copy visit Soul Jazz Records

BASS CULTURE - LLOYD BRADLEY

I have just finished reading Lloyd Bradley's book 'Bass Culture', and I must say I found this a very interesting read. It traces the out set of Jamaican music from the late 50's, with the birth of sound systems, playing imported American R&B tunes, through the emergence of ska, then rocksteady, into the heyday of roots reggae and all areas in between up to the present day. Although it must be said that from the 80's and to today is a very short ride compared to the rest of the book, and this makes it feel like a bit of a rush at the end. The reason for this could be due to Lloyd's very noticeable disliking of dancehall and digital reggae. He dismisses this as rather a best-forgotten period in which no good tunes surfaced! Although from the listening figures for WCTD Radio there is quite a few of you out there who obviously disagree. The book does end on a positive note though as he describes the rise of the Xterminator record label and its artists like Luciano, Sizzla and Ras Shiloh.

A big plus point for book in my opinion is the that he also looks at Jamaican social history of the time, as the musical styles changed, and how it reacted with the music to produce some truly great records. This interaction he also credits as in some way helping shape the political agenda of the country at times, as the two main political parties vied for the votes of the people. This 'history lesson' really helps to paint a vivid picture of Jamaica as it struggles to find an identity after independence, and also brings home that in Jamaica music isn't just about style and fashion but it is the country's culture. That might all sound a bit heavy going but believe me it isn't, and because of this I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in music in general and not just reggae.

SOUL JAZZ INNA DANCEHALL

Out Now is "Dancehall - The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture" the book available or from Soul Jazz Records and all good retail and online stores.

‘Dancehall – The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall Culture’ released on Soul Jazz Records is an essential guide and who’s who to the phenomenal explosion of Dancehall in Jamaica in the 1980s and its subsequently rise throughout the world.

Released to coincide with the launch of Beth Lesser’s deluxe 200-page book of the same name (also published by Soul Jazz Records) featuring hundreds of amazing photographs and accompanying text, this new CD double-album features a pantheon of Dancehall stars - Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, Sister Nancy, Tenor Saw, Sly & Robbie, King Jammy, Eek A Mouse, Yellowman, Frankie Paul and many, many more.

The album comes with extensive text by Steve Barrow, co-author of the acclaimed ‘Rough Guide to Reggae’ and features Dancehall classics throughout - capturing the vibrant, globally influential and yet rarely documented culture that has been mixing music, fashion and lifestyle with attitude since its inception.

Dancehall is at the centre of Jamaican musical and cultural life. From its roots in Kingston in the 1950s to its heyday in the 1980s, Dancehall has gone on to conquer the globe, spreading to the USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Europe and beyond. Dancehall is also a culture that encompasses music, fashion, drugs, guns, art, community, technology and more.

This ‘Dancehall’ double-pack CD is an essential reference for anyone interested in Reggae, as well as a jam-packed album full of 100% stone-cold dancehall classics. An A-Z of some of Dancehall’s finest moments.

The album features artwork and photographs taken from Beth Lesser’s new book as well as extensive sleeve-notes and comes as a double-CD pack and also a limited-edition two-volume double-vinyl LP release.


Some reviews of Beth Lesser’s forthcoming ‘Dancehall – The Rise of Jamaican Dancehall’ (which you can pre-order now for shipping next week):

“Lesser’s book is a vibrant anthology of all that mattered: the soundsystems, studios, producers, singers and deejays.” The Observer

“This superb book of Beth Lesser's photographs, supplemented by her empathetic text and wonderful candid interviews with many of the main players, gives us a unique view straight to the heart of dancehall reggae.” Steve Barrow, co-author of The Rough Guide to Reggae

“Inside the book features Dancehall and its luminaries, a back-drop of bass bins, heat-hazed colour and excellent knitwear, plus interviews, biographies and diversions into the music’s development.” Mojo

Also check these 2-page features in the following newspapers:

The Guardian

The Independent

The Sunday Times

www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/releases/?id=13647
www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/releases/?id=13466